I like the fact that Daria portrays a 'left of centre' character as the heroine. Whenever I watch Daria, I think of my older sister, who even wears glasses. I'm more like Quinn but not as popular at high school or fashion conscious. The dynamics between the two very different sisters are quite realistic. Like Daria, my sister found ways to make fun of my 'prissy' ways back when we were in high school. To be totally honest, I was quite hurt by her sarcasm and her constant put downs which made me feel like I wasn't as smart as she is. Nevertheless, my trials while growing up have made me the person I am today. I'm now employed as a youth support worker in a high school. In my opinion, high school never changes. There will always be the geeks, the popular group, the beauty queens, and that gorgeous guy that everyone wants. Now, I actually feel sorry for people like Daria who feel the need to be sarcastic in order to prove a point. In my opinion, sarcasm is a form of unresolved anger. I believe if you put other people down to make yourself feel better then you have major self esteem issues. In that regard, I feel that shows like Daria can be a negative influence on young people. The 'cheerleader' can actually be smart too and I feel that Quinn is unfairly portrayed. So, I 'kind of like Daria' because it promotes the geek to take centre stage, but I think it can also encourage young people to be bitter, negative and cynical. I understand that the show is exaggerated and the cynicism is part of the satire, but I don't necessarily believe it to be a healthy, positive influence.
I am from Canberra, (nation's captial) of Australia.
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